'This Week' Transcript:Two Powerhouse Roundtables

NEW YORK, March 24, 2013— -- A rush transcript of "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" airing on Sunday morning, March 24, 2013 on ABC News is below. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Good morning, and welcome to this week. Sunday showdown.

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OBAMA: The task of perfecting our union moves forward.

(APPLAUSE)

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STEPHANOPOULOS: Obama's big gun, Jim Messina.

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BUSH: Because you did the incredible work, we are celebrating today.

(APPLAUSE)

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STEPHANOPOULOS: Bush's architect, Karl Rove. The winning campaign chiefs face off for the first time on our powerhouse roundtable, only on This Week. Plus, the president overseas. We'll get insight on what comes next from our foreign policy experts, including ABC's Global Affairs Anchor, Christian Amanpour, and The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg, fresh from the president's trip.

ANNOUNCER: From ABC News, This Week with George Stephanopoulos. Reporting from ABC News Headquarters, George Stephanopoulos.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Hello again. You're going to see President Obama touching down at Andrews Air Force Base late last night after his first trip to Israel as president. We're going to analyze the mission, and what comes next for that volatile region, later in the program. But first, the big debates Obama is returning to here at home; guns, immigration, gay marriage and the budget. And for that, a This Week first, Jim Messina and Karl Rove join our powerhouse roundtable. Welcome to both of you.

Along with our This Week veterans, Donna Brazile, Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal, and Nightline co-anchor Terry Moran. Thanks to all of you. And Karl, let me begin with you. Saturday, 5:00 am, the Senate finally passes a budget, the first in four years for the Democrats. The House has already passed a budget. Very stark differences between the two. Everyone waiting for President Obama to weigh in as well. But I guess my question to you is, despite those stark differences do you see this as the beginning of negotiations toward a compromise?

ROVE: I frankly take this as a constructive sign. I have not yet understood why the Senate Democrats have not passed a budget resolution for the last four years. It gives the guidelines for the Senate to go pass appropriations bills under what's called, protection. That is to say that they don't require 60 votes, as long as they live within the limits. And this sets up then the normal flow of Congress. With the House passing a budget with less spending. The Senate with Democrats passing a budget with more spending, and going to conference and working out the difficulties.

It's -- requires hard work. It requires work by the committees, but that's the way that things actually give and take. When we get into a situation where everything has to be dictated from above, like with these continuing resolutions, we set up unnecessary...

(CROSSTALK)

STEPHANOPOULOS: And Jim, the president seems to have had the same insight. He's now started to go around the Republican leaders, and work one-on-one with Republican Senators?

MESSINA: Well, he's done that for four years, and I think he -- I agree with Karl, he...

(CROSSTALK)

STEPHANOPOULOS: Not that much.